B Braun Medical US and CeGaT Enter US Sequencing and Diagnostics Market With a Wide Range of Diagnostic Panels Including Tumor Diagnostics, Neuromuscular Diseases and Epilepsy

Published 12:38 PM ET Wed, 4 June 2014
Globe Newswire

BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 4, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- B Braun Medical US and CeGaT GmbH today announce the establishment of a US based company to enter the US diagnostics market.

Globally, Diagnostic Panels, a CeGaT innovation, were first made available in 2010. The worldwide demand for molecular diagnostics is growing explosively, therefore to supply the US market with the highest quality Diagnostic Panels and molecular diagnostic services, B Braun US and CeGaT have combined forces and established a US company based in B Braun Medical's Bethlehem headquarters, Pennsylvania. The name of the new company is B Braun CeGaT, LLC.

Diagnostic Panels enable CeGaT to sequence all of the genes associated with a given disease simultaneously by means of Next-Generation-Sequencing (NGS). This approach is much faster and considerably less expensive than the classical Sanger-based gene-by-gene sequencing which was state-of-the-art until 2010. In addition, the probability of finding a pathogenic gene variation is significantly enhanced by the use of Diagnostic Panels. Diagnostic Panels evaluate all genes associated with the patient's phenotype. This results in a highly accurate and reliable medical report issued based on the findings of the sequencing run, the medical history of the patient and their relevant family information. This report enables the referring clinician to select the best possible therapy for each individual case.

"Pennsylvania is a fantastic centralized location for a molecular diagnostics business," says Dr. Dirk Biskup, Founder and CEO of CeGaT. "After many years of experience in the design, sequencing, and analysis of Diagnostic Panels in Germany, we can offer a real value and treatment decision support to the clinicians in the US."

Paul O'Connell, President of B Braun CeGaT, LLC, adds, "It is our goal to serve the US health care market with a dedicated team and the highest possible standard in molecular diagnostics."

About B Braun US

B. Braun Medical Inc. (B.Braun), a leader in infusion therapy and pain management, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative medical products and services to the healthcare industry. The Company is committed to eliminating preventable treatment errors and enhancing patient, clinician and environmental safety. Guided by its "Sharing Expertise®" philosophy, B.Braun continuously exchanges knowledge with customers, partners and clinicians to address the critical issues of improving care and lowering costs.

The B.Braun Group of Companies in the U.S. includes B.Braun, B.Braun Interventional Systems, Aesculap® and CAPS®. B.Braun's U.S. headquarters is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The B.Braun Group of Companies employs more than 50,000 employees in more than 60 countries throughout the world. To learn more about B.Braun visit www.BBraunUSA.com.

About CeGaT

CeGaT GmbH, Tuebingen (Germany), was founded by Saskia Biskup, M.D., PhD, and Dirk Biskup, PhD, in 2009. The basis of CeGaTs success is an established high-throughput process for the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in diagnostic testing and the up-to-date knowledge of hereditary genetic diseases.

CeGaT is a diagnostic company which is renowned for identifying the pathogenic gene variation of a patient. Single gene testing (which was state-of-the-art until 2010), would not detect the causative gene variation in 80-90% of all cases. Consequently, CeGaT has invented and established Diagnostic Panels: By simultaneously sequencing all genes associated with a certain disease applying next-generation sequencing platforms, the probability of finding the causative gene variation is extremely high. In addition, this approach is much faster and considerably less expensive than the classical gene by gene sequencing.

CeGaT has established a total of 159 Diagnostic Panels, covering more than 1,800 individual genes. The sequencing data are interpreted based on the latest scientifical knowledge and are summarized in a medical report.

CeGaT was awarded best German Start-Up Company in 2011 and Entrepreneur of the Year 2013. CeGaT also was Top 3 finalist in Boston Children's Clarity Challenge 2012 (and the only participant worldwide to correctly flag every likely genetic mutation in all three families).